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Dairy of trip to the Big Bend
Wednesday June 9th 1897
It was after we came home from town, about five o'clock; we had packing and loading to do, and a dinner box to make before we started. It was about eight o'clock and Uncle Wm was in a hurry and worry for fear we had too much load, so he started on and left us to walk. Left the gun on the porch, lantern at the gate, tent poles in the road. Hiel and I to walk with the children. So here we go, Hiel with gun, tent poles,...
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Dairy of trip to the Big Bend
Wednesday June 9th 1897
It was after we came home from town, about five o'clock; we had packing and loading to do, and a dinner box to make before we started. It was about eight o'clock and Uncle Wm was in a hurry and worry for fear we had too much load, so he started on and left us to walk. Left the gun on the porch, lantern at the gate, tent poles in the road. Hiel and I to walk with the children. So here we go, Hiel with gun, tent poles, lantern and Edna. I with a bundle of gowns, a satchel and Delbert up the hill to Felida school house. Finished loading I walked on to the store to mail a letter, there I got in and after we had gone a quarter or more I discovered had lost Hattie’s purse so of course Hiel had to go back it was most dark but he found it and came in later. We only went to Lakeshore. The wagon stopped at Nugents blacksmith shop. I took my bundle, satchel and babies. (Delbert asleep) and started on a quarter of a mile a foot to Byhams to stay the remainder of the night, it being past nine o'clock. After talking till almost eleven we retired.
Thursday 10th
This morning I wait for the wagon to be repaired wagon bows to be furnished so I wrote a letter and went to Peter Wolfs to wait and eat my dinner. Here comes the wagon and Uncle says, "Don't stop to wash babies, hurry it is now past one o'clock hurry we have to get started goodbye, goodbye, goodbye."
Now for Vancouver, our first town stop there, a few minutes then we cross the Columbia and pass through some pretty scenery and through Fairview and on to Troutdale a very small town on the Sandy. We drove in at Bro Hiclins about eight o'clock. Ate our supper later and retired.
Friday morning 11th
To find it raining so we did not start until had made a few repairs and devoured a few cherries. After was made a present of some cheese and a couple rolls of butter we started about ten o'clock passed back through Troutdale, bought a few articles and on we went through rain and mud. We finally had to camp on account of mud, it being too much to pull through. We may have to remain here at Sandy for several days.
Saturday the 12th
It is still raining so we slept on our sawdust beds in a blacksmith shop until late this morning. We had a fire inside on the ground as it was not used for a shop anymore. Annie got breakfast after which Hiel and Annie got to pulling hair and kept it up so long I had to get dinner. Dinner over my eyes barely smoked out over the fire. Hiel and Annie got through hair pulling and are making horse hair rope. Uncle Wm is writing letters. Hair crafting, sewing and washing has been the afternoon pastime. All having good appetites for supper; we seated ourselves on whatever we might find. Hiel sat on the pot and ate his supper. We all retired early. (It was a stove pot he used).
Sunday 13th
The sun shining we started on joyfully until noon where we ate dinner with grasshoppers some about the size of fleas and larger, then drove on to the tollgate through sunshine and rain here we drove under a shed made for campers. Pitch our tent for the night our partners slept in the wagon. I tended Delbert most of the evening as he had got a straw stuck in his eye and could not see. We gathered wild strawberries today, they were fine ones.
Monday 14th
All up feeling fine and breakfast over. Everything packed to pass the tollgate peacefully. Through the gate to climb what is called Laurel Mountain. Here we find most beautiful flowers one need wish to see. The principal ones were first laurel, but were many kinds and in a few minutes we were in snow six inches deep the men were snow balling but had to drive out of the road to get in the snow. We ate dinner with the mosquitoes within three miles of the timberline of Mt Hood but not in sight of her. But a short drive and we saw the wonderful Mt Hood by waiting an hour or so for the fog to clear away. She had her cap on we could only see her skirts. In the evening we camped on mosquito flat, mercy on us. Mosquitoes in the biscuit in the frying pan but we was not bothered long as it soon rained and they disappeared but we had to take the rain. Swallowed our supper in a hurry and hustled to bed.
Tuesday 15th
Up at four o’clock and freezing with the wind and rain everything wet and muddy. We rolled up the bed and ate in the tent on the ground. All ready we started on a foot up again. Camped for dinner at an old sawmill. The men fished while waiting for dinner. The sun shining warm but before dinner was over it was raining. They caught eight or ten trout. About three o'clock we drove on, after we had gone about a mile Hiel discovered he had left his gun. We had to wait until he returned. Our next camping place is five miles from this as we have to stop where there is water as it is so near night cannot make another watering place. Here they are putting in a mill. Tonight Annie has a headache. I had supper to get and to help set the tent and put the children to bed.
Wednesday 16th
We was up early, for we had a big drive to make to reach Juniper Valley of which we did in about three hours. For the past day or so we have been driving through tall pine and juniper with no underbrush. Now all we see is rocks and wind, wind and rocks. We ate our dinner at Wapinitia, behind a high rock fence. It was plenty warm there without fire (on the sunny side of the fence). While we just froze when riding. The cover seemed as if it might blow off the wagon. Tonight we have a fine place to camp, sand for a bed, brush for a wind break, and wood for a campfire but we are out of potatoes and flour but have graham and will think of the squirrel Hiel was agoing to shoot if he saw it and it had not flew away. This fine place is at White river. I washed a few pieces while the other parties went calling, we soon retired.
Thursday 17th
This morning we cross White river to pass through Tygh Valley there were some post offices with two or three houses each. Then we climbed hills for about five miles up see nothing but hills. At last we went through Kingsley then Dufur which was a very pretty town, near the size of Hillsborough. Then it was hills, dust and wind until you can't do anything but freeze and scarcely see at all. We had to take the wagon cover off as it would have blown off. Hiel and Edna in the bottom of the wagon covered with the wagon sheet. Delbert and I covered head and feet with comforts and then shaking with cold but we made The Dalles on a home stretch and while we was stretching Uncle Wm hat blew off and down a canyon it went in a hurry. We left waiting in a sand storm. It was near The Dalles I saw my first Badger hole. It is a very pretty place built on the side of the rocky banks of the Columbia with quite a forest back of it (Dalles I mean). Here the Columbia is narrow and very rocky but looks grand. We camped in a stable yard and put up the horses here. The wind blew so hard could not put up the tent. All asleep in a kitchen with a stove in it is comfortable.
ABOVE ENTRIES WERE A FINAL DRAFT. ISABELLE'S ROUGH NOTES CONTINUE.
Friday 18.
We crossed Dalles Ferry the first thing and climbed hills all day. Only passed one town. It is called Centerville, a small place! And then Golden-Dale and camped on a little stream. Mrs. Rosa Brooks is to call this evening.
Saturday 19.
We leave the Klickitat River this morning by half past six to climb up a long mountain called Sinco quite a rough road. Tonight we camped on Sinco reservation, a wild rattle snake looking place. Where the Coyotes bark and howl and the river Satus is roaring to sooth us to sleep.
Sunday 20.
We go on through the mountains (ate dinner at the top) until we came to the desert which was 10 miles across it was very level and we made quite a drive about 25 miles in the afternoon. We camped on Yakima River in the suburbs of Old Yakima on the Toppenish. Hiel and Uncle killed a snake and saw a rattler they did not kill.
Monday 21.
We got up at four o clock to drive to North Yakima this morning to find Uncle Engle Schwartze but did not see him. This is a very pretty place in a beautiful valley of Yakima. You have to pass between two large mountains. Looks as if it had been a pass cut through purposely. We drove through this place and crossed the little stream ate our dinner near 15 miles from there. The sun shone so hot and no shade to be had, we sat down and eat. Were soon in the wagon on the way and it soon began to pour rain and it drove us in camp about four o’clock in a large barn without fire. Annie is sick and so was I, the men had supper to get.
Tuesday 22.
The men got breakfast, I dressed the children. Annie washed dishes everything ready to drive. It is 25 miles to Ellensburg. We have to cross the Wenas, and Citas Mt. and camp for dinner four miles of Ellensburg. It is the largest town we have seen since we left home. There are great many brick buildings here. We drove through the town to find a camping place on the commons where it is ever so windy. We are here waiting for Uncle and Annie to call on her acquaintances. Hiel is repairing our seat. We will eat bread and milk and retire early.
Wednesday 23.
We started early and drove back to town for supplies did not get started until after eight o’clock. Then it is up, up, up the Ellensburg Mountain. It is the worst hill on the route the Rockies included. They call it a hill. We drove out to eat dinner it was hot and no shade so we drove on to the trees. By the time we got dinner it was raining on us. We then camped on the mountain by a spring. It was late we cooked our supper boiled our mutton and went to bed.
Thursday 24.
Today we go down, down, down the Ellensburg Mt. the worst road we ever traveled. After traveling an hour or so we got another peep at the Columbia which we had not seen since last Thursday. Here we looked down on her and could see the desert on one side and mountains on the other. We lost her again until in the afternoon we got sight of her at the mouth of the Coulee then we were in sight of the Coulee most of the afternoon and we saw some grand mountain scenery. Near a house sat two large pyramids I do not know how high. They both had holes through top could see right through and several other large noble rocks, and beautiful mountains. Then we came to the town Wenatchee to Ferry across the Columbia for the last time and camped with one of Annie's friends; had new potatoes and plenty of milk.
Friday 25.
Our last days drive we drove through sand over hills and rocky hills. Ate our dinner at a spring and at night reached Mr Titchenal and ate our supper with them and slept in the house.
Saturday 26.
We arose to find breakfast all on the table, after eating biscuit and butter new potatoes to be sufficient I washed our dirty cloths hung them on tree limbs and lay some on the grass. While eating dinner it just pored rain. After dinner I had my cloths to wash over as they were beat in the mud, looked like mud.
Sunday 27.
We arose with the intention of going to meeting. So we rode six miles to meeting the first sermon at eleven o clock after which we were made acquainted with Brethren and Sisters in Christ of which were strangers we were received most welcomely and cared for very open heartedly took dinner with Mr Corbaley one Brother C. we were acquainted with. We had six miles to drive after nine o clock, got in about midnight.
Monday 28.
We spent the day visiting at Bro. Titchenal.
Tuesday 29.
We packed up and started to find a camping place. Was at Bro C. for dinner had some singing and drove to Bro Huffs to camp for a while. Man and wife very pleasant accommodating people. It tried to rain this evening. Goodnight.
Wednesday 30.
We did not rest first class as our bed was too high at the head we kept sliding down hill out at the foot had to keep crawling up and ants in the grub box, in the grub, in bed everywhere. We had chairs, table and strawberries given us today we helped pick berries.
Thursday July 1.
We did not rise until the flies would not let us sleep longer. Mrs Huff is to have company today. I shall have to clean the babies up as they have the black leg all the calves have that in the spring. While Hiel picked berries I washed babies faces, legs, feet, and comb their hair put on clean aprons put on some pears and beans to cook. Elder Corbaley and wife, his son and wife. Hiel and his wife and babies all took dinner at Mrs Huffs. After dinner they all went to pick berries except me, and my babies were asleep it began to pour down rain, we ate supper at camp.
Friday 2.
In the night the wind blew so we thought our tent would come down. Hiel says if it comes keep the pole off the babies but I didn't lay awake to watch the pole. In the morning we had to pick berries as I told Hiel he could keep the children and move camp and I would pick the berries. The wind blew so hard one worked hard to stand up. I was in the berry patch all day. By night Hiel had a fine camp ground built the tent up a foot on boards put the wagon sheet over the top of the tent, made a bedstead in it with straw and two wool beds we have a fine place to sleep. We have a borrowed wagon sheet stretch in front of the tent for our sitting room our summer kitchen is cleared out from among rose and thimbleberry brush with shade of willow and ash trees for a roof our stove table and chairs are here. Ate a bite and retired early as this had been a hard days work for both.
Sat 3.
We have nothing particular to do only patter around camp Hiel made a yard fence as cattle bothered some. We left once to return to find frying pans dish pan scattered. Dish-cloth partly eaten up our washbasin filled with some queer stuff looked like soft soap. I cooked washed dishes, and sewed some. Hiel picked a few berries I went to help but was late thank goodness. Came back ate supper and went to Bro C to practice singing got back about twelve o’clock and went to bed.
Sunday 4th.
The Brethren decided to celebrate today in religious service in a grove about three quarters of a mile from here. There were a good many there had two sermons and refreshments, and they were refreshing too! A fine dinner almost too cool in the grove to be pleasant. Found a sunshine spot for dinner. Had a splendid time all eager to get acquainted and all good jovial people. After services three Corbaley family, Skeels, Paterson and Hathaway remained at Bro Corbaleys to sing some from the Jubilee and ate ice-cream returned home to supper and spent a pleasant evening with Bro H. and their company Bro Luderman and wife most eleven o’clock when we went to bed.
Monday 5.
When we awoke up this morning it was just pouring rain so we lay in bed until most nine o’clock waiting for it to stop raining but it would not it was an old fashioned rain so we was invited in the house to get our breakfast. Of course we excepted it rained most of the day so we ate dinner at the house now we have moved in our sitting room with the stove and table and have a fine fire of pine knots, equal to a fireplace fire. It is now supper time Hiel is writing a letter and the babies are asleep. So good night.
Tuesday 6
It is still showery and as Mr Luderman could not go home until today they started at noon as Mrs Huff could not wash. I thought I would! Put the boiler on her stove and here comes more company Bro and Sister Titchenal so off came the boiler. After dinner I commence again about four o’clock put my washing out and went to bed.
Wednesday 7.
Mornings work done and dinner over and a young man takes a notion to be baptized so they let the Bretheren know as many as they could and went to Bro Allie C. to the water about 18 gathered there. Then we drove to Waterville four miles from here our first time. We are in a land of cattle and grass but not a speck of meat in the shop not even man. Two meat markets in town one closed and one not. Sugar 19 lbs to the dollar got home nearly frozen to bed as quick as possible.
Thursday 8
Did not do much, ironed a little and sprinkled the rest to iron tomorrow. Picked a few berries had supper. The men brought us a cow so now we will have milk.
Friday 9.
Did up the work, Picked berries. Got dinner, sewed some, slept some. Got supper and went to bed.
Sat 10.
Picked berries all forenoon. Ironed after dinner and helped Mrs Huff make jelly. Hiel went to town with him. I give the babies a bath and went to camp and got supper and went to bed very shortly.
Sun 11.
Up early so to get ready for Sunday school. All ready after S.S. we had teaching by Alder Corbaley after which we drove to Bro and Sister Corbaleys for dinner and had another piece of strawberry shortcake. Small piece as large as your foot, it being so warm went to the grove to spend the afternoon with the children in a hammock and us in rocking chairs we listed to a grand sermon read, after a few hours of chatting we retired to the house had lemon aid and drove home. Good bye.
Mon 12.
This morning I clean up camp and move back in our summer kitchen. Got ready for bread baking pick a box of raspberries for dinner. Hiel has been picking berries. Dinner over I go and help pick some and eat bread and milk, and go to roost.
Tues 13
Hurried to get breakfast over and dishes washed so to hurry the folks off with berries. Put the babies asleep and spent the afternoon sewing while Hiel hoed cabbage. Hiel went to milk I wrote some and went to bed, he soon followed.
Wednesday 14
This morning we pick raspberries until noon got dinner Hiel puts up hay and I stay in camp and patch. Hiel had a quart of peas for his supper and we had strawberries and cream. It is now bedtime Hiel got a letter from home he feels pretty good tonight.
Thur 15.
Hiel helps haul in hay. I patch a little. Annie and Uncle come she cuts his hair and they go to Mr Huff's for dinner. After we had our homemade shortcake she came and cut Hiel's hair. Hiel went to the hay field. I put the afternoon in sewing and picking peas and berries for supper. Hiel has gone to milk. The babies have a part of a sack of graham for a baby, are playing very busy. I must wash my dishes.
Friday 16.
After being awoke in the night with a rattlesnake scare we slept late this morning it being my wash day. Hiel wrote a letter, after dinner I finished my washing about three o’clock. He went a hunting, got nothing, Hiel picked some peas for supper we set around the fire a while and go to bed.
Sat 17.
This has been a long hard days work. I made my bread and ironed some. Got dinner, after which I baked my bread at the house. The folks took berries to town and left us in possession. I finished my ironing made a cake to take to church. Hiel hoed and put water on to take a bath. so. he. she. it and baby took a bath. Hiel did their milking I packed the cloths up to camp eat bread and milk and went to bed, cold.
Sun 18.
Got up late but must try to get ready for S.S. we get started but late, get there for part of it. After S.S. Elder C preaches a lengthy sermon after which we have refreshments. Then we sing some out of the Jubilee until time for services again. About four o’clock. Drive home, with a couple of hams in our rig. While at church I made acquaintance of some of the Skeels relation a lady whose father was David Skeels and David's father lived in New York. Her father had black hair and blue eyes: she had blue eyes, but reddish hair. Home again Hiel gathers some strawberries fry some shoulder and have our supper and kiss the babies goodnight.
Mon 19.
Another hot morning, and lots of raspberries to pick. We have to make our living by the sweat of the face, (and everything else). Fry meat boil potatoes have strawberries and cream and ready for more berry picking. But I was not called so spent the afternoon in letter writing gathered peas for supper and that’s all.
Tues 20.
We are up this morning for a hard days work. I for washing and Hiel for berry pick. I did my washing and the wind blew so I could scarcely get the cloths on the line. I and the babies eat our dinner as Hiel had gone a gunning. I took a nap, then gathered my cloths and ironed them. Hiel got a couple of birds so he dressed them and we ask Mr and Mrs Huff to a camp supper with us. Washed dishes and went to bed.
Wednesday 21
We are to go a visiting today so get ready. Hiel gets a horse of Bro Platt C. and we take dinner with Bro Allie C. and wife we spent a very pleasant afternoon. 22nd This morning Hiel went to the creamery with him. I helped her gather vegetables and get dinner we had four different kinds of vegetable and a fine peach cobbler for dinner after which we drove three quarters of a mile to Elder C in Waterville. After perching some apron goods we spent the night there in quite talk and sleep.
Friday 23.
We are up late for breakfast but got it all the same we took dinner with them then drove to Bro Pattersons and enjoyed rather a pleasant afternoon. Went to bed at a reasonable hour.
Sat 24.
This morning we drive to Bro Guards for dinner here the children have a high old time and before going to bed we had a great time killing bugs, large black ones. They are called beetles. Oh mercy the bed the children were in was on the floor and they were all over the floor and on the bed and in the bed we were half hour killing them off before we would try to go to bed to sleep. So finally we thought we would try it and the first time one of us woke up was to light the lamp and look for bugs. We lit the lamp two or three times we could hear them drop on the pillow and light a match and kill them. By and by morning came.
Sunday 25.
This morning we get ready and go to S School after this we listen to a sermon by Elder C. then we drive home with Bro and Sister Jonson got at their home about two oclock and soon had dinner but had to fight gnats out of our vittles all the time we were eating. They did not bite us but just got in the vittles. We enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon had a lunch and retired later.
Mon 26.
We arose this morning somewhat weary. After breakfast she and I went to the garden gathered beans for her, turnips beets and cabbage for me. Soon after we started for camp once more with everything dirty. Now dinner was to get and everything to cook. Hiel got potatoes and strawberries so we had dinner. Then Hiel helped pick a few S. berries for Mrs C who called a few minutes. I picked up our cloths and put away. Then I wrote diary Hiel wrote a letter to Orin and it is night again. The children are howling for something to eat like hungry wolves.
Tues 27.
This morning I must wash. Hiel helped Mr and Mrs Huff off to town he gathered peas and shelled for dinner. After dinner babies and I took a nap while Hiel read the bible. A young man came to tell us of a place they wanted a hand in the harvest fields. Mrs Johnson called at the tent as Mrs Huff had not returned yet. Hiel expects to go and see about that job tomorrow. Goodnight.
Wednesday 28.
Up early and Hiel is off after work. I dress the children give them their breakfast and help pick Raspberries eat a quick dinner and put the babies to sleep and nearly go to sleep myself. Wrote a part of a letter picked a few more berries and got supper not expecting Hiel. Sat down to eat and here he came in time to eat with us but no work this time.
Thursday 29.
Did my work and patched some, cut out an apron got dinner. Sewed some and tried to gather strawberries for supper but failed. Gathered raspberries and had supper and went to rest.
Friday 30.
Breakfast over I thought to iron but could not so gathered gooseberries and cooked. Hiel went to town with Mr Huff did not back till late he and Huff ate dinner at camp while I ironed did not get done until most supper time. Got a lunch and went to bed.
Sat 31.
After breakfast Mr and Mrs Huff went to town she told me if I had any baking to do I could use the stove so I made a cake, as it was meeting day tomorrow and to have refreshments there. I picked raspberries for her to make her pies I went to camp about four o’clock.
Sunday August 1.
Up and hurry to get ready for our ten mile ride, the school house was so small decided to make seats in a grove near with some boards there and some stove wood blocks. They took one of the teams and soon had things on the ground. In the morning we listened to a new preacher and then dinner was set after which we listened to a few remarks from him Elder C. and Uncle Wm then a warm ride home. To have supper was next on the program, so we picked a box of raspberries and soon had supper and retired tired.
Mon 2.
We got up early as Hiel was to go to work plowing. I did not do much but put things away and gather vegetables for dinner and in the afternoon cut out three aprons for the children and got supper.
Tuesday 3.
This morning I washed and got dinner then finish washing and finish a letter have supper. Hiel is hoeing.
Wednesday 4.
Do my work and gather in my cloths and pick gooseberries and beans and have dinner. Then dress the children and go half a mile visiting at Sister Platt C. she give me peas, beans, onions and apples. I came home and got supper set bread washed dishes, Hiel hoed today and I had a caller while I was away Mrs Burger so now goodnight.
Thursday 5.
This morning is very hot. I bake my bread and do a little of everything. Hiel helps haul wheat hay. Edna churns for me. I sew a little and get supper.
Friday 6.
This morning Hiel hauls hay, at a dollar a day. I gather gooseberries and currents will have four quarts of them. String beans and get my dinner afterwards bathe the babies. Sew a little I guess that’s all.
Sat 7.
Hiel hauls hay this morning and I prepare to tear up camp as we are going to move to Bro Corbaleys grove. Hiel is going away to harvest and I and babies will be alone. He comes to dinner and brings with him two men as Mrs Huff has gone to town. Dinner over Hiel cuts Delberts hair and then down come the tent and we were loaded in a hay rack with four sides to it and drawn to the grove. Here we have ground to clean off and tent to stretch a bedstead to make and it most night. Hiel most starved as peas and potatoes to gather for supper and Hiel had to go back and milk the cow he got back about 10 o’clock and we retired.
Sunday morning 8.
First thing on program is breakfast. Then a young man comes and cuts Hiels hair and shaves him. Put on some water to heat and he takes a bath. Then makes a fence around camp makes a shelf for the dinner box and goes to milk. I clean the children and myself up for church we take Hiel there and he goes to work from there. Edna took a good cry and I had to cry some too. We have a fine place water very
MISSING PAGE
to get and eat this is the peoples wash day. I made yeast and sewed some. Got dinner and put the children to sleep. Made sponge got supper and dipped water for to wash with tomorrow. Got wood also heat water took a bath and went to bed.
Tues 10.
Up late again. Wash most of the day. Sew a few minutes and gather vegetables for supper eat it and retire.
Wednesday 11.
I just played around most of this day. Annie and her folks were here a few minutes. The wind is blowing hard and cold will soon get to bed so to keep warm.
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